1236
SIAM
11th, 1932. A triennial poll-tax used to be imposed upon Chinese, but this has now been changed to an annual capitation-tax paid by all under Siamese jurisdiction. Siam entered the Universal Postal Union on the 1st July, 1885.
The first railway line, from Bangkok to Paknam, was opened by the King on the 11th April, 1893. It is a purely passenger line, having been unable to get any goods traffic worth mentioning, but the dividend averages about seven per cent. Another railway, a Government line vid Ayuthia to Korat, was the first important line completed. The first section, from Bangkok to Ayuthia, a distance of about 50 miles, was opened on the 26th March, 1897. Another section, to Gengkoi, was opened on November 1st, 1897, a third, to Hinlap, on April 1st, 1898, and the whole line was opened to traffic in November, 1900. The construction of a line branching off the Korat line near Ayuthia and intended to open up the country to Chiengmai was commenced in June, 1898, and the first section (42 kilometres) to Lopburi was opened to traffic on 1st April, 1901. The next section, Lopburi-Paknampo (118 km.), was opened to traffic in November, 1905, the section to Pitsanulok in 1907, and the last section to Chiengniai on January 1st, 1922. The line running south-west to Petchaburi, vi Ratburi, 152 km. long, was opened to traffic in the early part of 1903. In 1909 the construction of this Southern line was continued from Petchaburi, and has now been completed to the Kedah frontier at Padang Besar and to the Kelantan frontier at Sungei Golok. A through rail service between Bangkok and Penang was opened on July 1st, 1918, and the time was reduced to 32 hours from the 1st October, 1929. The Eastern line from Bangkok to Patriew was completed in 1908. It has now been continued to Aranya Prades near the Cambodian frontier. The Korat line is being continued to Ubon. A further section of the North line, to Ban Dara, was opened in November, 1908, and a section to Utaradit and Pang Ton Phung, with a branch line to Sawankalok, at the end of 1909. By November, 1913, the line was open to traffic as far as Pak Tha, and the survey of the route to Chiengmai had made good progress. The war delayed the completion of the Northern line, but through traffic was opened to Chiengmai towards the end of 1921. The total length of State railways open to traffic on September 30th, 1930, was as follows:-East Bank,1,576 kms.; West Bank, 1,347 kms.; 156 kms. of railway line from Nohn Wat (Korat)-Kon Kaen are at present under construction. The private railway companies comprise the Paknami, Meklong and Phrabad Companies. A fleet of steam and motor launches runs from the metropolis in all directions up-country to the east and west.
The foreign import trade of Siam some years ago took a leap upward and remained practically unchanged at Ticals 63,000,000 until 1909. In 1928-1929 the value of the imports was Ticals 189,790,506 as compared with Ticals 201,080,535 in 1927-1928. The value of exports in 1928-1929 was Ticals 252,474,784 as compared with Ticals 276,269,363 in 1927-1928 (including re-exports). In 1929-1930 the total imports were Ticals 206,713,078 and the total exports Ticals 219,772,893. During that period the main exports were:-Rice, Ticals 139,087,390; Tin and Tin Ore, Ticals 22,638,323; and Teak, Ticals 11,218,773. The principal export is rice, which in 1928-1929 constituted 69.36 per cent. of the total exports; tin represented 7.94 per cent., and teak 4.45 per cent.
The Army is small, but in recent years great progress has been achieved in military matters. The land forces of the Kingdom are divided into 10 divisions grouped into three Army Corps, with one independent Division (the 4th). The First, the division of the Guards, is stationed in Bangkok. Each division consists of two Regiments of Infantry, one of either Cavalry or Chasseurs, one Regiment of Artillery, one Company of Engineers, one Company of Transport, and one Ambulance Company. At the invitation of the Allied Powers Siam sent a contingent of volunteers, consisting of aviators and motor transport troops, to France in June, 1918. A form of conscription is in force throughout the country. The Royal Military College in Bangkok has been one of the principal factors in the improvements effected in the Army, and young officers trained in this institution are also in great demand for the work of the civil administration of the interior. The Navy is small, but additions are constantly being made to its strength.
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The last census was taken on July 15th, 1929, when the population of Siam was found to be made up as follow:-Siamese 10,493,304, Chinese 445,274, Indians and Malays 379,618, Cambodians 60,668, Annamites 5,321, Shans_27,505, Burmese 4,880, Europeans and Americans 1,920, Japanese 295, Others 87,422--Total 11,506,207.
On June 24th, 1932, a revolution, headed by certain military and naval officers, broke out in Bangkok. Various leading Princes were seized as hostages and an